Two explosions in Turkey leave four dead, injure several others

An explosion in south-eastern Turkey killed four people Thursday just hours after an apparent car bomb attack targeting security forces in Istanbul.

The four were killed and at least 10 others were injured in the explosion in Sarikamis, about 15 kilometres from the Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, the Turkish government said. The blast occurred while Kurdish militants with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were loading explosives onto a stolen vehicle, the sources said.

The PKK regularly carries out bombings against security forces that have large presence in the region to counter the organizations.

Earlier, a car appeared to have exploded as a military bus was passing near barracks in Istanbul, injuring eight people, including five soldiers, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported, citing Governor Vasip Sahin.

The blast took place in Sancaktepe district, on the Asian side of the Turkish metropolis.

In August, Kurdish militants claimed a car bomb attack on a police station in the nearby Sultanbeyli neighbourhood, killing an officer. Two militants were also killed in clashes with police.

Recent months have seen a serious uptick in clashes between the state's security forces and militants from the Kurdish minority, leaving many hundreds dead.

Beirut (dpa) - Syrian government forces and their allies advanced deeper into the shrinking rebel-held enclave in eastern Aleppo on Wednesday, seizing the Old City, while demanding the armed opposition groups leave the area.